Lock Nest Fishing – Pretoria Fishing Venue Review

Honingnestkrans, Pretoria North, Gauteng

Barefoot Fishing Venue Review | Updated September 2026

Venue at a Glance

1. OVERVIEW

Lock Nest Fishing is a small, privately managed farm dam in Honingnestkrans, just north of Pretoria. Its biggest attraction is the combination of a quiet rural atmosphere, a compact but interesting piece of water, healthy fish and easy access from the city. It works particularly well for anglers who want a day session or a simple weekend fishing camp without travelling far into the country.

The dam is not a typical high-tempo “catch one after another” venue. Recent fishing reports describe it as productive but sometimes technically demanding, with abundant natural food, reed beds, grass patches, lilies and changing bottom structure. That makes watercraft, accurate placement and patience more important than simply putting out large quantities of feed.

A recent 2026 angling feature described the water as clean and healthy, with a natural inflow and no visible hyacinth or blue-green algae during the visit. The same report recorded healthy carp over 10 kg on conventional bank-angling tackle.

2. LOCATION, ACCESS AND DIRECTIONS

Address: 223 Hamerkop Street, Honingnestkrans, Pretoria, 0110, Gauteng.

GPS supplied for the venue: 25°34’59.2″S, 28°10’49.5″E (approximately -25.583111, 28.180417).

From central Pretoria, allow for roughly 24 km to the venue. Because access roads in the smallholding area can change and navigation apps may route differently, the safest approach is to navigate directly to the street address or GPS pin and confirm gate/access instructions with management before departure.

Supplies: SPAR Bon Accord on Lavender Road, Onderstepoort, is one practical grocery option in the wider area. It is still sensible to arrive with your bait, drinking supplies, braai grid and essential groceries rather than depending on last-minute shopping.

3. THE DAM AND FISHING WATER

Lock Nest is a compact farm dam of roughly 3 hectares. Older descriptions put the water at about two to three rugby fields in size, while a recent bank-angling session described the fishable width as about 160 m in the area tested. Reed beds, grass, overhanging trees, water lilies and marginal structure create a surprisingly varied fishery for a dam of this size.

Stand 1 is traditionally described as the entrance-bank swim facing the dam wall. The deepest water is around 4.5 m, with useful structure and overhanging trees. A recent marker-float session found a drop-off around 60 m, with depth increasing from about 3 m to roughly 4.5 m from around 70 m onward, followed by a relatively level, soft bottom.

The main social bank has historically been described as a flat grass area in front of the main house, with a small jetty and a bay that can hold better fish at certain times of year. It allows anglers to camp fairly close together while still retaining separate fishing water.

4. STANDS, CAMPING AND FACILITIES

The stand layout has changed over time, and different sources currently describe different totals. A recent 2026 venue feature refers to eight stands; and the current Lock & Lure section advertises nine spacious campsites, eight of them with shade. This appears to reflect the separate management sections of the same property.

• Current Lock & Lure facilities advertised: nine campsites, eight shaded, with electricity and fresh drinking water at each site.
• Clean, accessible bathroom facilities are advertised for the Lock & Lure section.
• Built-in braai facilities are associated with the fishing stands; carrying your own braai grid is still a sensible precaution because older visitor reports noted missing or worn grids.
• A children’s play area is advertised in the Lock & Lure section.
• Overnight camping is available; this is primarily a fishing/camping venue rather than a conventional self-catering lodge or chalet resort based on the current information found.
• Farm animals are present on the property, and a recent venue feature reports large dogs on the property at night. Pets are therefore not allowed.

5. FISH SPECIES AND FISH QUALITY

Lock Nest offers more variety than its carp-fishing reputation may suggest. Reported species include:

• Full-scale/common carp
• Mirror carp
• Koi carp occasionally seen/caught in the margins
• Barbel / catfish
• Black bass
• Kurper / tilapia
• Mudfish reported in a recent venue feature

Carp over 15 kg have been reported from the water. Carp SA listed a 15.3 kg common carp as the lake record in 2022, while a recent 2026 feature again described the dam as capable of producing 15 kg-plus fish. Treat any “current record” claim as something to verify with management, but the venue clearly has genuine big-carp potential.

6. PRACTICAL FISHING APPROACH

Lock Nest rewards a considered approach. The following tactics are drawn from recent and established venue reports rather than presented as fixed rules:

Carp – specimen approach

• Plain or flavoured tiger nuts, hemp and maize have produced fish.
• Fake maize can be used as a visual hookbait over a small feed area.
• Pay attention to reed margins, grass patches, bays, drop-offs and the dam-wall structure rather than simply casting to open water.
• Because the venue contains plenty of natural food such as snails, mussels, crabs and other aquatic life, feeding too heavily may not always be necessary.

Conventional bank angling / papgooi

• A recent 2026 session produced carp of 10.12 kg and 11.23 kg using conventional bank-angling tackle.
• The angler found productive structure around 70-90 m and used floaties with flavoured feed. Fruit-type flavours have also been reported as effective.
• Start with accurate, repeatable placement and adjust only after reading the water. Lock Nest is generally described as a patience-and-watercraft venue rather than a tempo-fishing dam.

Bass and mixed-species fishing

• Bass can be targeted around water lilies and reed edges with surface frogs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft plastics where conditions allow.
• A small inflatable craft has been used in designated/appropriate areas in recent reports, but boat and water-access rules should always be confirmed for your booked section before launching.

7. SAFETY AND WATER-EDGE CAUTION

Do not assume that the margin is shallow. A recent venue feature specifically warns that the water becomes deep very quickly after only a few steps. Avoid unnecessary wading, especially in low visibility or when landing fish at night. Children should be closely supervised at the water’s edge.

As with any private venue, secure valuables, keep your stand tidy, use adequate lighting at night and confirm current access/security arrangements when booking.

8. RULES AND VENUE ETIQUETTE

The following points should be treated as the practical baseline, with management’s current rules taking precedence:

• Booking is essential. Do not rely on arriving without a reservation.
• No pets are allowed.
• Catch-and-release and careful fish handling are strongly emphasized.
• Use an unhooking mat/cradle and suitable landing net for larger carp.
• Keep the bank clean and remove all fishing line, hooks, bait packaging and rubbish.
• Confirm whether bait boats, inflatable boats or other watercraft are permitted in the section you have booked.
• Confirm rod limits, visitor limits, arrival/departure times, noise rules and night-fishing conditions directly with the relevant manager.

9. RATES AND BOOKING

Lock Nest has more than one management/booking arrangement, and published prices differ by section. Rates should therefore be confirmed at the time of booking.

Booking contacts:

• Hester / Lock Nest main public contact: 083 511 0344. User-supplied information associates Hester primarily with stands 1-4.
• Paul / Lock & Lure: 082 570 7143. The current Lock & Lure website advertises nine campsites. User-supplied information previously associated this management with stands 5-8, so stand numbering should be confirmed because the layout has apparently evolved.

Public listings show general venue/day access around 06:00-18:00, while the Lock & Lure website lists booking/contact hours of 08:00-17:00 Monday-Saturday and 09:00-12:00 Sunday. Overnight campers should obtain the applicable gate and check-in arrangements directly from management.

10. WHAT LOCK NEST DOES WELL

• Very convenient for Pretoria anglers who want a quick escape without a long drive.
• Compact water with real structure: reeds, grass, lilies, margins, depth changes and dam-wall features.
• Healthy fish and genuine potential for double-figure carp, including 15 kg-plus fish.
• Suitable for specimen carp, conventional bank angling, bass and mixed-species sessions.
• Good social layout for families or friends who want to camp close to the rods.
• Current Lock & Lure section adds practical camping comfort through shade, power, drinking water and bathrooms.

11. POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BOOKING

• The venue has separate sections/management arrangements, so rates, stand numbers and facilities are not completely uniform.
• Fishing can be slow or technically demanding; this is part of the appeal for experienced anglers but may frustrate those expecting tempo fishing.
• Aquatic vegetation and marginal structure can complicate conventional two-hook presentations in some areas.
• Bring your own essential camping and braai equipment even where facilities are advertised.
• No pets are allowed.

12. BAREFOOT FISHING PERSPECTIVE

Lock Nest is best viewed as a close-to-home fishing escape rather than a full-service holiday resort. Its strength lies in the water itself: a small but interesting dam, healthy fish, enough structure to challenge experienced anglers, and the possibility of memorable carp without travelling far from Pretoria. The current improvements in the Lock & Lure section make it more comfortable for family camping, while the different management sections mean that good preparation and clear communication before arrival are essential.

For an angler who enjoys reading the water, experimenting with distance and presentation, and fishing around natural structure, Lock Nest offers far more than its compact size suggests. It is particularly attractive for a one-day session, a social overnight trip, or a weekend devoted mainly to fishing.

13. QUICK REFERENCE CHECKLIST

Herman Bouwer
Barefoot Fishing